CHICAGO (November 3, 2021)
 
In Short
Playing in front of a home crowd for the first time since February 2020, Braden Norris scored a team-high 17 points and Loyola University Chicago shot 57.1 percent (36-for-63) from the field as it coasted to a 93-41 victory over UW Stout at Gentile Arena tonight in the team's lone exhibition tune up before the 2021-22 season opener next week.
 
How It Happened
Loyola shook off some early jitters and a pair of three-point field goals from Norris during a game-changing 17-2 run in the first half that turned a one-point advantage into a comfortable 26-10 lead. The Ramblers completely dominated the opening period after the first four minutes and wound up sinking 20 of their 33 attempts from the field and 6 of 14 tries from beyond the arc. The aforementioned 17-2 surge was part of an incredible 40-9 run that put the Ramblers in command, 49-17, and they never looked back.
 
Although its shooting cooled just a tad in the second half, Loyola completely put the game out of reach four minutes into the period when a pair of free throws from Tom Welch opened up a 32-8 run that allowed the lead to balloon to 91-37, the largest margin of the night.
 
Head coach Drew Valentine was able to get every player who dressed for the game at least four minutes of action and 12 of the 13 players who saw minutes scored at least one point.
 
A Look at the Numbers

• Norris went 5-for-7 from three-point range and added three assists and three steals to go with his game-high 17 points.
• Three other Ramblers reached double figures in scoring, including Lucas Williamson, who totaled 11 points, five boards, four assists and four steals in only 22 minutes of action.
• Aher Uguak filled the stat sheet by accounting for 10 points, six caroms and three assists, and Jacob Hutson also pitched in 10 points to go with six rebounds and a pair of blocks.
• Lovell Williams led UW Stout, which was limited to 24.1 percent (13-for-54) shooting, with 10 points.
• Loyola newcomers Ryan Schwieger (9 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists), Saint Thomas (8 points, 6 boards, 3 assists, 2 steals) and Ty Johnson (7 points) all showed well in front of a boisterous Gentile Arena crowd.
• Loyola forced the Blue Devils into 21 turnovers on the night.

 
Up Next
Loyola opens the 2021-22 regular season next Tuesday (Nov. 9) when it hosts Coppin State at 7 p.m.